Having signed with Warner Brother Records, Laurie Anderson was soon to be at the height of her career in the mid-80s. This interview/lecture is incredibly insightful for both Anderson fans and those who have fond memories of the experimentation being done in the form of challenging and intelligent pop songs during the early to mid-80s.

In part 1 of this interview before a live audience of 1000 at the Exploratorium's Speaking of Music series in the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, Charles Amirkhanian speaks with Laurie Anderson about songs from her recent album, Mister Heartbreak. Anderson discusses influences on many of the songs on that album including Kokoku and Sharkeys Day. In addition, the composer explains her new albums departure from her last release, Big Science, containing O Superman.

Lauries sense of humor emerges in stories of her past lives, the controversy of extinct animal cloning and a funny incident with her clone being spotted in New York City. Laurie discusses and plays the music of musicians who have influenced her through the years including Ken Nordine, Bongo Joe, Henry Theil and her immersion in Cuban music through club visits in uptown New York and how it has affected her music on her new album.

In Part 2, Laurie discusses the origins and variations of the song O Superman (for Massenet). She plays a Jules Massenet piece sung by Charles Holland (O Souverain) then O Superman by Laurie; also various bootleg/cover versions of O Superman." She discusses the Eventide Harmonizer, the three states of a song while analyzing song Its Cold Outside which was to become Big Science and listen to variations of both pieces. Laurie takes questions from the audience and then talks about writer William Burroughs.

plus-circle Add Review

comment

Reviews